Petrol Bomb Hurled At TN Governor's House, Opposition Slams DMK Govt

A man with 14 criminal cases was arrested on Wednesday for hurling petrol bombs at the main gate of Tamil Nadu's Raj Bhavan, which is the official residence of the state Governor RN Ravi.

However, there was no damage, or injuries to anyone and there was no security lapse, a senior police official told PTI. The accused, identified as 'Karukka' Vinoth, was overpowered by cops immediately.

The incident occurred around 3 pm on Tuesday on Sardar Patel Road, on the opposite side of the Raj Bhavan. "There was no fire...there was some flame only on the wick, the bottle fell down and broke. He was caught and he had some more bottles and these were seized," the news agency quoted a press release from the police department as saying.

'Karukka' Vinoth, aged 42, has 14 criminal cases and he was out on bail recently. He is a resident of Teynampet. Vinoth was the accused in two similar incidents, including the one targeting the BJP office here over a year ago.

Within the past one week, he was freed from jail after he secured bail. Before the incident on Wednesday, he consumed liquor and he is being questioned on his motive.

"Only one petrol bomb was used; it did not create any impact the way the accused expected," Additional Commissioner of Police Prem Anand Sinha said. said and ruled out any security lapse.

A case has been registered and the accused was remanded in custody.

On asking whether the accused was aware of the Governor's 'movement', the official said, "It does not appear to be so."

Meanwhile, Opposition AIADMK and BJP slammed the government over the incident that happened outside the official residence of the State Governor.

Leader of Opposition and AIADMK chief, Edappadi K Palaniswami said a scenario of 'insecurity' prevailed for the Raj Bhavan itself, meant to be a high-security campus. Expressing shock, he said the incident illustrated 'deterioration' of law and order in Tamil Nadu.

Former chief minister O Panneerselvam also blamed the alleged deterioration of law and order. VK Sasikala, confidante of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa said the incident was tantamount to intimidating the Governor.

BJP state president K Annamalai said, "Incidentally, it is the same person who attacked @BJP4TamilNadu headquarters in Chennai in Feb 2022, is held responsible for the attack on Raj Bhavan today, "

Raj Bhavan's Reaction
There have been incidents of public threats to the life of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi but a "studied indifference" by the state police to the matter has vitiated his security, the Raj Bhavan alleged on Wednesday.

The "bomb attacks" on the Raj Bhavan today, where a man hurled Molotov cocktail, "is a consequence of it." In a complaint to the Chennai Police Commissioner regarding the incident, the Governor's office also alleged verbal attacks and threats "mostly by leaders and workers of DMK and its allies in their public meetings and through their social media."

The complaint copy was released to the media. "These threats are intended to overawe the Governor and restrain him in discharging his Constitutional duties. However, complaints lodged with the police have been inconsequential due to police inaction," it said.

Ravi was "physically attacked with sticks and stones while he was on his way to attend a function at the Dharmapuram Adhinam in Mayiladuthurai district earlier. While a complaint was lodged, no FIR was registered. Same was the case with some other similar incidents, it claimed